Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive or take a huge chunk out of your savings. Sometimes the cheaper the trip, the more fun you have on the experience. Here are a few destinations to visit without breaking the bank:
Thailand
Thailand is one of the cheapest destinations to travel to. Naturally, near commercialized beaches and luxury resorts it is expensive. But if you go further off the beaten path then you can find a hotel with a swimming pool from $30.00 a night, surrounded by rice fields, buddhist temples, and hill tribes.
South Africa
South Africa is another great destination to travel to when you are on a budget. You can see the safari as well as explore the beautiful Cape Town. Day to day travel is really low here with food and lodging expenses being at least two times lower than other popular destinations. The most money you’ll be spending is the flight to get there, but it is definitely worth it.
Puerto Rico
The great thing about Puerto Rico is that you don’t need to apply for a passport to go there and they also accept US currency so there is no exchange fee. There’s beautiful beaches, great shopping, and amazing restaurants. If you travel end of April to December, which is low season, you’ll find even more great deals on direct flights.
Vietnam
Vietnam offers beautiful views, great food, and amazing sights for a small price. You can stay at a very nice hotel for cheap and there are many budget friendly hotels to relax at that are all safe and clean. In addition, the meals there cost around $5.00 for authentic vietnamese food, which is a steal for any place you travel to.
Greece
Greece’s declining economy has them no relying heavily on tourists. They have affordable hotels, 3 or 4 stars for less than $100 a night in a central location. The prices get even cheaper when you go to the countryside. In addition, meals are very inexpensive with a gyro at around 1-2$ and souvenirs are also very cheap.
Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. If you plan, look for deals, and go to the right destinations then the options are endless. You just have to pack your bags and book your flights.
When planning and getting ready for a trip packing is usually procrastinated and then done in a rush. Packing well is essential to a successful trip, for example forgetting sneakers to hike or a bathing suit at the beach can lead to a major vacation inconvenience. Creating a list and making sure you have all the essentials is a great way to make sure you are never in a situation without something. There’s a fine balance between packing everything you need and overpacking as well.
Important Documents
Make sure to pack all important documents including passport, ID, credit cards, cash, tickets, hotel confirmation, and travel itinerary. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than getting to an airport and discovering you forgot your boarding pass or your passport. Not to mention, having no money is certainly no way to spend a vacation. Make sure all the documents are in a safe, secure, easy to find place that can be easily accessed since you’ll most likely need them a lot throughout your travels.
Clothing
It can be easy to overpack in the clothing, shoes, and accessories department when going on vacation. Make sure to plan out your outfits by day and lay them out ahead of time. In addition, make sure to pack a few extra shirts and an extra pair of pants just in case you spill on an outfit or get sweaty. Shoes wise, packing 2 to 3 pairs should be good enough depending on how long you stay. Shoes take up a lot of space and weigh a lot so if you’re traveling via airline it’s best not to add to many. In addition, extra underwear and socks are something you can never go wrong with. Depending on where you are traveling and activities you are doing pack outfits you can layer, bathing suits, etc.
Toiletries
Depending on where you’re traveling, it’s best to buy travel sized bottles once you arrive at your destination. This eliminates the chance of bottles exploding in your bag and also gives you more room for other things. In addition, many travel lines restrict you to only packing a certain amount. Other toiletries that should be brought are basic makeup items, towels, medicine, first aid kit, deodorant, etc.
There are many other things that should be packed for trips but these are a few tips to get you started on sorting out what to bring and what not to bring to have a successful vacation.
Need some inspiration to travel? Want to learn more about how to get the best deals? There are many resources out there for you to research the best tips and ideas on travel. There are plenty of different blogs all with different niches to look into.
Budget Traveller
The budget traveller blog is all about how to travel on a budget. Who doesn’t like saving money? Kash Bhattacharya has been exploring the world for six years and has plenty of experience about how to save money without skimping on your experience. His blogs are informative with an emphasis on traveling in Europe, like 50 Free Things To Do In London.
Nomadic Matt
This blog is another great resource for people who want to travel on a budget. The site focuses on articles that surround planning out your trip and finding funds to travel such as cheap flights, getting jobs abroad, and other ways to make money to fund trips. He’s been featured in the NY Times, Guardian UK, BBC, and many more.
Young Adventuress
This blog is written by Liz who is an expert on solo female travel. Having been doing it for 10 years, she shares many insights into how to stay safe, what adventures to go on, as well as her mistakes. In addition she shares witty musings, lifestyle posts, and general knowledge from having traveled to over 50 countries.
Expert Vagabond
This blog emphasizes the need to get out of your comfort zone and live your best life. He gives expert travel tips from around the world as well as discusses unique things to do in countries that you wouldn’t think of trying. He’s been traveling around the world for about 6 years and spreads his advice through blogs and photography.
Wanderlusters
Run by Charli Moore, this is an adventurer blog that shows travel destinations, inspiring tales, and travel photography around the world. Her blog is great for adrenaline junkies looking for a new adventure in another country. She also has helpful guides from places she explored in the past that are great for travelers looking for adventures off the beaten path.
Getting advice and inspiration from travel blogs is a great way to do research and get the most out of your trip by learning from people who have already been where you wanted to go as well as learn from their past mistakes and successes!
Traveling the world is a dream that many people don’t deem possible due to finances and time. However with the right money saving tips you can definitely afford to take a trip every year without having to eat ramen every day.
Flights
Your flight is usually your biggest purchase when you are traveling. Flights can definitely be costly especially when flying out of the country. To save extra cash make sure to be flexible for your flying in and out day. Often leaving one day later or earlier can make up to a $300+ difference. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the cheapest day to fly due to the fact that there is less demand then so flying out those days can save you a good amount of money.
Although they can clutter your inbox, signing up for email alerts from airlines as well as flight deal sites like Secret Flying and The Flight Deal. Also, travel light if you can. Airlines charge if you have two bags or more and some are even charging per bag. Instead, opt for a carry on if possible – this way you don’t have to worry about pesky luggage claims either.
Transportation
Car rentals and taxis can put a huge dent into your budget. When traveling, using public transportation as much as possible is your best bet for saving money. Also walking as much as you can is also a great idea. You can take in the sights, get exercise, and not spend a single cent on transportation.
Food
When eating out three meals a day food budget can definitely sky rocket when traveling. While you want to be able to experience the many foods the culture has to offer, you can do this without emptying your wallet. For breakfast try shopping at the local market or grocery store and picking up fruits, yogurt, and other snacks. Also, watch where the locals go.
Often restaurants catering towards tourists can trap you and leave you with an expensive bill. Instead, try local stands and see where the lines are to taste delicious food. Another money saving tip is to eat big meals at lunch rather than dinner. Since food is often cheaper in the afternoon you will save money on the same food you’d be eating at dinner without sacrificing the experience of trying out new foods.
Accommodations
If you don’t feel comfortable staying in a hostel but also don’t want to pay the pricey fees that come with a hotel then there are many other options. AirBnB is a great way to stay, as well as experience the culture of another country or place better. Also staying in a home allows you access to a kitchen which can tremendously cut down on the high cost of having to eat out. Also staying in the less touristy town 15 minutes from your destination can cut down on costs if you don’t mind being a little bit farther.
Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can still travel. Sticking to a budget, finding cheap transportation and housing deals, are all great ways to travel without breaking the bank. The key to traveling cheaper is to plan so start researching your next destination early and thoroughly.
